Gold Medal Shootout For Great Britain And Japan

Great Britain can guarantee a gold medal finish and promotion in the World Under-20 Championships if they beat Japan in their final game on Saturday.

GB are one point behind group leaders Japan which means a three-point regulation win or a two-point overtime or penalty shot victory will be enough to see Britain promoted.

Korea ended GB’s winning run, beating the hosts 5-4 after a penalty shootout in the Division Two Group A at Dumfries Ice Bowl.

Korean netminder Jong Hun Chun kept GB out during the first period, stopping all 12 shots directed at his goal. Liam Kirk and Cole Shudra both went close to scoring, while Korea managed only five shots in reply.

Despite GB’s pressure, Korea went ahead at 21 minutes 45 seconds through Hyun Seok Lee’s shot from the right circle.

The home team equalised when Shudra scored his third goal of the tournament, bundling the puck past Chun from a goalmouth scramble (27-03), but Korea went back in front 47 seconds later when Hun Park netted from the slot (27:50).

Britain made a netminder change just past the midway point of the game when Ethan James replaced Jordan Lawday, before Kirk broke into the offensive zone and fired top shelf to make it 2-2 (36-38).

An exciting second period drew to a close in the most dramatic of circumstances with two successful penalty shots in 30 seconds.

Juhyung Lee fired five-hole after Ben Edmonds was penalised (38-10) and then Sam Duggan went short-side with his penalty shot after he was hauled down on a short-handed breakaway (38-40).

GB netminder James made two big saves early in the third period, but Korea went ahead through Juhyung Lee’s second as he converted a two-on-one break.

Kirk scored his second of the night – and sixth of the tournament – with a neat spin in front of the net on the powerplay (57-33).

Overtime was goalless, despite GB creating numerous chances on the powerplay, but they were beaten in the shootout with Kwanyong Park scoring the winning penalty for Korea.

There are no games tomorrow (Friday) but Saturday will see the medals decided. A three-point regulation-time win for GB over Japan will see them win the group outright.

However, an overtime or penalty-shot win for GB would see them pick up two points and Japan one point, which would mean they would be level on 12 points.

Britain would go up as the next criteria after points is results between the two sides.

GB and Japan both know the prize going into their clash on Saturday. A regulation, overtime or penalty shot win for either team would see them promoted.

Saturday schedule: Romania v Korea (1pm), Estonia v Netherlands (4-30pm), Great Britain v Japan (8pm).